Team Stats

Hitting %

Blocks

Digs

Aces

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio volleyball team (4-6) wraps up the non-conference portion of its 2018 regular season schedule this weekend (Sept. 14-15) as it visits the Columbia, Mo., to take part in the Mizzou Invitational at the Hearnes Center.

Ohio opens the weekend by facing Drake (9-1) at 2:30 p.m. EST, then taking on tournament host Missouri (7-2) at 8 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 14). The Bobcats close out their stay in Columbia with a 1 p.m. matchup with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-9) on Saturday (Sept. 15).

Ohio's match against Missouri will be streamed live on SEC Network+. Jake Hromada, 'The Voice of Ohio Volleyball', will have the call of all of the action this weekend on OhioBobcats.com via Stretch Internet's GameCentral audio stream.

OHIO CLINCHES SHARE OF 2018 BOBCAT INVITATIONAL TITLE Ohio went 2-1 at the 2018 Bobcat Invitational presented by Texas Roadhouse at the Convocation Center over last weekend to clinch a share of its home tournament title. The Bobcats opened the weekend with a 3-2 (25-27, 24-26, 25-22, 27-25, 15-11) triumph over Samford on Friday (Sept. 7) morning. After falling to Virginia Tech, 3-1 (24-26, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16) on Friday evening, Ohio closed the Bobcat Invitational out with a 3-1 (25-15, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21) win over IUPUI.

NELSON, MILLER SHINE FOR BOBCATS Redshirt senior right side hitter Katie Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) enjoyed a big offensive week last week for the Bobcats, hitting .312 and ranking second on the team in both kills (46; 2.71 per set) and blocks (17; two solo, 15 assisted; 1.00 per set). Nelson started off week three of the 2018 season by tallying five assisted blocks in Ohio's 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 20-25, 22-25) setback at Marshall last Wednesday (Sept. 5) at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, W. Va. She then posted double-digit kills in all three matches of the Bobcat Invitational. Nelson racked up a team-high 16 kills and added seven total blocks (one solo, six assisted) in the triumph over Samford. Later that evening, she hit .367 with 14 kills and chipped in two total blocks (one solo, one assisted) in the loss to Virginia Tech. She finished the weekend tournament strong, hitting .391 with 11 kills and totaling three assisted blocks as Ohio knocked off IUPUI.

Redshirt junior middle blocker Simone Miller (Kalamazoo, Mich.) led the team and ranked fourth on the squad with 25 kills (1.47 per set) and 37 points (2.21 per set) last week. Miller opened week three of the 2018 season by matching her career high with seven assisted blocks in the loss at Marshall. She then put together a career performance in Ohio's triumph over Samford, hitting .650 with a career-high 14 kills and tallying a career-high eight assisted blocks.

JIMERSON NAMED MAC EAST DIVISION OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sophomore middle blocker Tia Jimerson (Sugar Hill, Ga.) was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Sept. 4.

Jimerson became the first Bobcat to earn conference weekly award honors in 2018 and earned MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week recognition for the third time in her career.

Jimerson hit a team-best .409 with a team-high 24 kills (2.67 per game). She also ranked second on the squad with 10 total blocks (10 assisted; 1.11 per set), helping her lead the team with 30 points (3.33 per set). Jimerson hit .429 with eight kills and also chipped in three assisted blocks last Friday as the Bobcats fell to Santa Clara. On Saturday, Jimerson tied for the match lead with 11 kills and hit .529 as Ohio swept Wake Forest. She also led the match with four assisted blocks.

BOBCATS GO 1-2 AT SPORTS IMPORTS CLASSIC TO OPEN 2018
Ohio began the 2018 campaign by going 1-2 at the Sports Imports Classic two weeks ago in Columbus. Sophomore setter Vera Giacomazzi (San Vendemiano, Italy) dished out a match-high 49 assists. She represented Ohio on the All-Sports Imports Classic Team after finishing the weekend with 94 assists (8.55 per set).

REWIND The Bobcats are coming off of a 2017 season that saw Ohio go 17-15 -- including a 10-6 mark in MAC play. Ohio earned the No. 4 seed in the 2017 MAC Championship and a bye to the tournament quarterfinals. Ohio topped Eastern Michigan, 3-1, to advance to the league tournament semifinals for the 16th year in a row.

IN IT TO WIN IT Ohio was selected to win the MAC East Division, regular season and tournament titles in the league's 2018 preseason coaches' poll, the conference office announced on Aug. 22.

The Bobcats earned nine of the MAC East Division's 12 first-place votes and finished with 68 points. Ohio earned eight of 11 votes to win the regular season crown and five of 11 votes to win the tournament title. The poll was voted on the conference's 12 head coaches, with one head coach choosing not to select a regular season or tournament champion.

READY FOR AN ENCORE Giacomazzi, Jimerson and Stephens represented Ohio on the 2018 Preseason East Division All-MAC Team.

Stephens, who was named a team co-captain on Tuesday, played in all 32 matches and appeared in all 122 sets in her 2017 sophomore season, earning All-MAC First Team honors. She led both the team and the MAC and ranked 66th in the country with a career-high 443 kills (3.63 per set), which ranks as the eighth-most in a single season in program history in the rally scoring era. She posted double-digit kills 25 times -- including 20 or more three times. Stephens led both the team and the MAC and ranked fifth in the nation with a career-high 60 service aces, which ranks as the fourth-most overall in program history and most in program history in the rally scoring era. She posted three or more service aces on 10 occasions. Her 0.49 service aces per set led both the team and the MAC and ranked sixth in the country and rank as the most in program history in the rally scoring era. Stephens led the team and ranked second in the MAC with a career-high 527.5 points (4.32 per set), which ranks as the ninth-most in program history in the rally scoring era. She posted 20 or more points 10 times. Stephens also ranked second on the team with a career-high 320 digs (2.62 per set) and posted double-digit digs 15 times -- including 20 or more two times.

Through 10 matches in 2018, Stephens ranks second on the team in kills (83; 2.73 per set) and service aces (11; 0.30 per set).

Giacomazzi played in 32 matches and appeared in 121 sets in her 2017 freshman campaign, earning MAC Setter of the Year and All-MAC First Team honors as well as a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team. She ranked second in the MAC and 30th in the country with a team-high 1,278 assists (10.56 per set; fourth in the MAC) -- the most assists in a single season by an Ohio freshman in the rally scoring era in program history, the ninth-most assists in a single season by any player in the rally scoring era and the 10th-most in a single season by any player in the overall history of the program. She tallied 40 or more assists 17 times, 50 or more assists eight times and 60 or more assists once. Giacomazzi ranked third on the team with 306 digs (2.53 per set) and posted double-digit digs 14 times. She achieved 14 double-doubles. Giacomazzi also ranked third on the team with 52 total blocks (two solo, 50 assisted; 0.43 per set).

Through 10 matches in 2018, Giacomazzi leads Ohio with 250 assists per set (6.76 per set).

Jimerson played in all 32 matches and appeared in all 122 sets in her 2017 rookie season, earning MAC Freshman of the Year and All-MAC First Team honors as well as a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team. She led the team and ranked fourth in the MAC and 59th in the country with a .358 attack percentage (409 kills-112 errors-829 total attacks), which tied for the third-best hitting percentage in a single season in the rally scoring era and tied for fifth-best in a single season in the overall history of the program. Jimerson ranked second on the team and fourth in the MAC with 409 kills (3.35 per set) and posted double-digit kills 21 times -- including 20 or more three times. She led the team with 105 total blocks (25 solo, 80 assisted; 0.86 per set), with her 25 solo blocks tied for the seventh-most in a single season in the rally scoring era of the program. She posted five or more total blocks 10 times. Jimerson also ranked second on the team with 479 points (3.93 per set) and posted 20 or more points six times.

Through 10 matches in 2018, Jimerson is third on the team with 19 total blocks (19 assisted; 0.95 per set) and fourth with 60 kills (3.00 per set).

Kosiorek and Nelson are in their second seasons serving as team co-captains.

In addition to Kosiorek, Nelson and Stephens serving as team co-captains, junior libero/defensive specialist Meredith Howe (Grand Rapids, Mich.) is in her second season serving as the program's second-ever academic captain.

THE DEANE OF OHIO VOLLEYBALL Deane Webb is in his fifth year as the head coach of the Ohio volleyball program in 2018. The Bobcats have gone 85-49 (.634) under the direction of Webb. -- including 50-14 (.781) in MAC play. Ohio won a MAC regular season title with a perfect 16-0 (1.000) league year in 2014, then captured the conference tournament title in 2015, the latter of which propelled the 'Cats to their 10th NCAA Championship appearance in program history.

The Bobcats have also excelled in the classroom under Webb. Ohio's 22 Academic All-MAC selections since Webb's arrival in Athens are the most under any head coach in the history of the Ohio volleyball program.

Webb owns an overall career coaching record of 455-265 (.632) over 21-plus seasons -- including 314-205 (.605) over 17-plus seasons at the NCAA Division I level.

MEET THE COACHING STAFF Ohio's bench features a coaching staff with both familiar and new faces. Joining Webb for a fifth season in Athens is assistant coach Maggie Couture. Rodnei Santos is in his second year as an assistant coach on Webb's staff. Laura Santos moves from the director of operations role to the volunteer assistant coach spot for her second season with the Bobcats. New to the Ohio coaching staff this year are director of operations Adam Kuntz and graduate manager/technical coordinator Andy Rynd.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE The Bobcats' 29-match regular season slate is highlighted by four non-conference tournaments, 11 home matches at the Convocation Center and 16 MAC matchups. The Bobcats will battle six teams that ranked in the top 100 of the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) in 2017 and three 2017 NCAA Championship qualifiers -- including defending national champion Nebraska, regional semifinalist Missouri and MAC archrival Miami.

FOR THE RECORD As a team, the 2017 squad's 183 service aces rank as the fourth-most in the rally scoring era in program history while its 1.50 service aces per set and 4,531 attacks both rank sixth, its 1,940 digs rank seventh and its 15.90 digs per set rank 10th.

FAMILIAR FACES The Bobcats welcome back 13 of the 2017 team's 15 student-athletes.

READY FOR A COMEBACK Bouyer, Kosiorek, Miller and Nelson all missed either all or the majority of the 2017 season due to injuries.

Kosiorek was an All-MAC Honorable Mention selection in 2016. Her 3,486 total attacks rank seventh overall in program history and fifth in the rally scoring era. Her 136 service aces are sixth overall in program history and second in the rally scoring era. Her 0.36 service aces per set are tied for second in the rally scoring era in program history. Her 1,139 kills rank ninth in the rally scoring era in program history. Her 2.99 kills per set rank 10th in the rally scoring era in program history. Her 1,346.0 points rank eighth in the rally scoring era in program history. Her 3.53 points per set are seventh in the rally scoring era in program history.

Through 10 matches in 2018, Kosiorek leads Ohio with 101 kills (2.73 per set) and 16 service aces (0.43 per set). She enters this weekend ranked fourth among MAC players in both service aces (41st in the country) and service aces per set (74th in the country).

In 2016, Nelson led the team with a career-high 91 total blocks (17 solo, 74 assisted; 0.89 per set), recording five or more total blocks on a career-high seven occasions. She ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 201 kills (1.97 per set) and recorded double-digit kills on a career-high seven occasions.

Through 10 matches in 2018, Nelson ranks second on the team with 31 total blocks (two solo, 29 assisted; 0.86 per set) and third with 75 kills (2.08 per set).

Miller ranked third on the team with a career-high 49 total blocks (10 solo, 39 assisted; 0.98 per set) in 2016.

Through 10 matches in 2018, Miller leads Ohio with 32 total blocks (one solo, 31 assisted; 1.19 per set). She enters the weekend ranked second among MAC players in blocks per set.

STEPPING UP With the squad plagued by injuries to key players, several Bobcats rose to the occasion to help keep Ohio competitive in 2017.

Olman ranked third on the team with a career-high 203 kills (1.95 per set) and posted double-digit kills a career-high nine times.

Januszewski totaled a career-high 158 kills (1.48 per set) to rank fourth on the team and posted double-digit kills three times. She also compiled a career-high 80 total blocks (nine solo, 71 assisted; 0.75 per set) to rank second on the team and posted five or more total blocks five times.

Vaughn ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 23 service aces (0.20 per set). She also tallied three or more service aces on two occasions.

Howe ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 275 digs (2.46 per set) and tallied double-digit digs on a career-high 15 occasions. She also ranked second on the team with a career-high 27 service aces (0.24 per set).

Remmers totaled a career-high 110 kills (1.43 per set) to rank fifth on the team and posted double-digit kills once. She also tallied a career-high 199 digs (2.58 per set) to rank fifth on the team and Posted double-digits 12 times -- including 20 or more once.

REMEMBER REIHING Though Giacomazzi and Jimerson earned all-conference accolades in 2017, Reihing put together a freshman campaign to remember as well. Her 484 digs led the team and ranked as the 10th-most in a single season in history and eighth-most in the rally scoring era while her 4.14 digs per set ranked as the ninth-most in a single season in the rally scoring era in program history. She tallied double-digit digs on 24 occasions -- including 20 or more nine times and 30 or more once.

Through 10 matches in 2018, Reihing leads the team with 148 digs (4.11 per set).

Angermeier was a three-year starter at Lake Catholic High School, serving Served as a senior team captain for the nationally ranked Cougars in 2017 and helping to lead the squad to a second-straight Ohio High School Athletic Association Final Four berth after an undefeated regular season. She was a Second Team All-Ohio selection and earned both First Team Division II and First Team North Coast League honors for the third year in a row in 2017.

Natale was a varsity starter and three-year letterwinner at Walsh Jesuit High School. She owned a career serving percentage of 93% and helped lead the Cavaliers to four Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I district titles (2014-17) and Division I regional runner up finishes in 2016 and '17.

Park was a four-year starter at West Holmes High School, compiling the eighth-most kills in Ohio High School Athletic Association history with 1,634 over her four-year career. She garnered First Team All-Ohio honors as both a senior in 2017 and a junior in '16 after earning Second Team honors in '15.

Park was named to the All-Ameritas Players Challenge Team after hitting .267 with 15 kills (2.14 per set).

Slavik was a three-year letterwinner at Saint Charles East High School and was an All-Illinois selection in 2017 after changing from setter to right side hitter due to team injuries, leading the Fighting Saints to their first regional win since '14 and an appearance in the sectional finals as team captain.

Slavik currently ranks second on the team with 102 assists (3.92 per set).

Walsh was a four-year letterwinner at Allen High School and Earned Honorable Mention All-District 6-6A honors as both a junior in 2016 and a senior in '17.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION: DRAKE Ohio and Drake are set to square off for the first time.

Drake went 23-10 a season ago and was picked to finish fourth in the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bulldogs are led by sixth-year head coach Darrin McBroom.

The Bulldogs went 3-1 in their home tournament last weekend, sweeping Eastern Illinois (3-0; 25-22, 25-19, 25-14), South Dakota State (3-0; 25-20, 27-25, 25-23) and Massachusetts-Lowell (25-22, 25-13, 25-16) before being swept by in-state rival Iowa, 3-0, (34-32, 25-23, 25-15), in the Hotel Renovo-Wildwood Lodge Invitational.

Drake enters this weekend as one of the top defensive teams in the country, first in the MVC and fifth in the country in digs per set (18.68), first in the MVC and 13th in the country in blocks per set (2.79) and first in the MVC and fourth in the country in opponent hitting percentage (.112).

Senior outside hitter Cathryn Cheek -- a 2018 Preseason All-MVC selection -- leads Drake with 96 kills (3.31 per set). Junior middle blocker Elle Tubbs ranks second in the MVC with 43 total blocks (one solo, 42 assisted) and leads the conference and ranks 23rd in the country with 1.43 blocks per set. She also leads Drake with 11 service aces. Junior setter Paige Aspinwall has dished out a team-high 198 assists (6.60 per set). Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Kylee Macke leads the Bulldogs with 130 digs (4.81 per set).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION: MISSOURI The Bobcats and the Tigers are set to meet for the fifth time. Ohio and Missouri last faced off on Sept. 12, 2003, at the Marquette Challenge in Milwaukee, Wis., where the Bobcats came away with a 3-1 victory.

The Tigers finished 22-12 overall and 13-5 in Southeastern Conference action a year ago, tallying a ranking of No. 27 in the RPI. Missouri advanced to the NCAA Championship Regional Semifinals after knocking off Kansas, 3-2, in the First Round and Wichita State, 3-1, in the Second Round. The Tigers' season came to an end with a 3-0 setback to Penn State in the Sweet 16.

Led by 19th-year head coach Wayne Kreklow, Missouri was selected to finish third in the 2018 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Like Drake, Missouri is one of the top blocking teams in the nation, ranking second in the SEC and 16th in the country with 98.5 total team blocks and first in the SEC and ninth in the country with 2.9 blocks per set. The Tigers are limiting the opposition to a .155 hitting percentage -- good for fourth in the SEC and 38th in the country.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION: TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI Ohio will take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the first time.

The Islanders are led by third-year head coach Steve Greene. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, which finished 15-14 last year, was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference Coaches and Sports Information Directors Preseason Poll.

UP NEXT Ohio opens up MAC play next Thursday (Sept. 20) against East Division rival Kent State in a 7 p.m. matchup at the Convo. The Bobcats will then close out the first weekend of league action with a trip to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to square off against West Division foe Central Michigan on Saturday (Sept. 22) at 7 p.m.